EDUCATION chiefs have attacked the Government’s decision to halt the redevelopment of Witney College — and fear students will study elsewhere.

Nicky Edmondson, headteacher of Henry Box School, said the decision to put the £30m campus on hold was a disappointment.

The Learning and Skills Council — the body responsible for funding the building work at the college sites — said it was reviewing college projects following the economic downturn, and Witney was one of 79 projects affected.

Part of the redevelopment of the Holloway Road site included new training facilities in catering and hairdressing for an extra 200 students, and a new sixth form building.

Ms Edmondson said: “Any delay is very disappointing for us.

“We already feel there is a limited range of vocational subjects, such as hairdressing and catering, and there is quite a strong demand for those sorts of subjects.

“Students will potentially go elsewhere or they will chose other courses with less interest to them.

“We were looking forward to the range of courses being offered from 2010.

“Many of our students benefit by taking courses at Abingdon and Witney College — particularly Witney.”

Niall McWilliams, headteacher of Carterton Community College, was also disappointed.

He said: “It’s a restriction on our students’ future education opportunities which will have major implications for them.”

A spokesman for the LSC said: “Too many colleges across the country were wishing to expand or redevelop at the same.

“The amount of funding each required the Government to provide was too much.”

The college has now been left with a £40,000 bill for temporary classroom accommodation after students were transferred to study in 57 of them last year.

About 450 full-time students, aged 16-18, attend the college.

In addition, 1,100 adult students use the facilities.

Student Amber Lee, 18, of Witney, said: “It’s a real shame for the newcomers — especially those who want to study beauty therapy.

“The students thinking about joining the college would expect to be going in to a redeveloped college and they will end up in temporary classrooms like us.”

Witney Chamber of Commerce chairman Lesley Semaine said: “I am just amazed at this late date the Government has stopped it. What a tragedy.”

Witney college director of development Steve Billcliffe said: “These are anxious times for the college.

“The delay could have serious consequences for the education of young people in the area.”

But he said the college was determined to overcome the setbacks.

The LSC is due to fund 80 per cent of the building work, with the college putting up £6m.

A spokesman for the LSC said it was unknown when redevelopment work would resume.

witney@oxfordmail.co.uk